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Burkhard Meyer - Switzerland Rain Medical Center Rain 34, Aarau 2003 - 2004 |
The
new bulding for the Rain Mecical Centre in Aarau is anchored on the
ridge of the hillside. This building, designed by the architectural
office Burkhard
Meyer,
connects the existing hospital with the downtown, located on a higher plateau. The Medical Centre contains doctors' surgeries, treatment rooms and apartments. With this mixed use for medical purposes it constitutes a building without a clearly assigned typology in the city. This rather unspecific character reveals itself especially in the design of the exterior appearance. The glass skin responds to the excessive street noise, thermal transitions, energetic demands and formal aspects. An outer glass layer covers plastically formulated and slightly colored varying wall panels. Transparency, translucency and opacity permit or obstruct views, direct the light and ensure the interaction with the environment. Along the street on the higher level, this glass façade is set above a concrete base. This clear cut volume with a hermetic appearance, contrasts with the neighbouring buildings. |